Garment-hanger.



Patented Nnv.- l9, I90l.

No. 687,l33

P. F. DENNING. GARMENT HANGER. (Application filed Jan. 17, 1901.

(No Model.)

w/msssss A 7100 rs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE, I

PATRICK FRANCIS DENNIN'G, HAVERSTRAW, NEW YORK.

GARMENT-HANGER.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 687,133, dated November 19, 1901. Application filed January 17,1901. Serial No. 43,619. (No model.) A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK FRANCIS DENF,

NING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Haverstraw, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Garment-Hanger, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for supporting or holding garments, and is especially adapted for use in theaters, halls, churches, and the like, but it may be used in a room or closet; and the object'is to provide a device of this character of simple construction that maybe attached to a suitable support-such as the back of a theaterchair, a pew, or a wal1-and adapted to hold hats, overcoats, and other garments, and which upon being relieved of the weight of the garments will automatically fold against its support, so as not to endanger or interfere with the clothing of persons passing it.

I will describe a garment-hanger embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a garmenthanger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end View, partly in section, with the arms in lowered position; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 00 w of Fig. 1.

The device, as here shown, comprises three swinging arms A, B, and O, the arms A and 0 being the outer arms, while the arm B is located between them. The several arms are of similar construction, and each consists of two sections 1 2, pivotally connected together, and at the joint these two sections are engaged by a spring 3. The said spring has its central portion coiled around the pintle of the joint and its ends inserted in openings in the two sections, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The lower end of the inner section 1 of the arm is pivotally connected to a bracket 4, through which screws may pass to attach the device to a support. On each end bracket 4 is a boxing 5, within which is arranged a strap or fiat metal spring 6. This strap-spring is coiled at one end around a shaft 7, which is projected outward through a wall of the easingand is made angular to be engaged by a key towind or adjust the tension of the spring,

and the tension may be held by any suitable means -such, for'instance, as a pawl-andratchet mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thespring 6 extends outward through an opening in the top wall of the boxing 5, passes over a guide-pin 8 at the top of the bracket,

and engages at its outer end with the end of the end of the spring has a connection with a link 9,pivotally connected to the end of said section 20f the arm.

Arranged on the front of the bracket 4 for the central arm B isaboxing 10, within which is pivoted a hat-holding finger consisting of a portion 11, extended downward below the boxing and adapted to hold a hat-brim between it and the bracket 4, and a portion 12, which extends upward in the boxing and is connected or engages with a push-button 13. The lower portion 11 of the hat-holding finger is held yieldingly in its clamping position by means of a V-shaped spring 14, arranged in the boxing 10, one member of said spring engaging with the portion 12 of the hat-holding 1 boxing and engages with the end of the section 1 of the arm B. This spring 14 therefore, it will be seen, serves two pnrposes' that is, as a means for moving the arm B to its elevated position and also to cause the clamping movement of the hat-holding finger.

The end of the section 2 of the arm A is connected to the end of the section 2 of the arm B by a rod or bar 15, and said section 2 of the arm B is connected to the section 2 of the arm 0 bya rod or bar 16. These rods or bars are designed to support coats or other garments when in a lowermost position, and while I have shown two bars it is evident that a single bar may connect the several outer outer sections of the arms are to be drawn outward, as indicated by the dotted line .2 in

said Fig. 2. Then by hanging garments over the baror bars the arms will be held in their extended position by the weight of said garments. Upon relieving the device of the weight of the garments the arms as a whole will be drawn upward, and during this movement the sections 2 will be folded upon the sections 1, this movement, of course, being through the medium of the springs 6. When it is desired to engage a hat with the hatholder, the button 13 is to be pushed inward, moving the lower portion 11 of the hat-holding finger outward, so that the brim of the hat may be placed between it and the bracket. Then upon releasing the button the finger will engage closely against the hat. As the hat is supported between garments on the rods, it will not be engaged by said garments with a sufficieut force to crush it.

The device may be suitably incased or covered with plush or leather, so as to presenta good appearance, and while I have shown the outer portions of the springs 6 as disclosed upon the arms it is obvious that the edges of the arms may be extended upward in the form of flanges provided with a channel, in which the springs may be hidden.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A garment hanger, comprising arms mounted to swing from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position, each arm consisting of two sections adapted to fold one against the other, a bar connecting opposite arms, and a spring operating to move said arms to a folded and closed position upon being relieved of the weight of the garment, substantially as specified.

2. A garment hanger, comprising arms each consisting of two sections pivotally connected together, springs at the joints of the two sections for folding the outer sections against the inner sections, abar connecting opposite arms, and a spring or springs connected with the arms for moving them to a closed position, substantially as specified.

3. A garment-hanger, comprising swinging arms, springs connecting atone end with the outer arms and at the other end with a fixed support or shaft, a spring engaging with the center arm, a hat-holding finger also engaged by said spring, and a bar connecting the several arms, substantially as specified.

4. A garment-hanger, comprising swinging arms, a bar connecting opposite arms, brackets to which the arms are pivoted, boxes on said brackets, and springs having coiled portions within said boxes, the said springs being extended through openings in the boxes and engaging with the arms, substantially as specified.

5. In a garment-hanger, a bracket or base, a boxing fixed rigidly on the base having an opening at its lower side and an opening in its front, a pivoted finger having a portion within the boxing and a portion extended through the opening and below the boxing, a spring in said boxing engaging with the finger, and a push-button movable in the opening in the front of the boxing and engaging with said finger portion within the boxing, substantially as specified.

6. A garment-hanger, comprising a plurality of arms arranged in a row, a bar connecting the arms, each arm consisting of an outer and an inner section pivot-ally connected together, a spring having one end engaged with the outer section and the other end engaging with the inner section and operating to fold the outer section upon the inner section, and brackets to which the inner sections are pivoted, substantially as specified.

7. A garment-hanger, comprising a series of arms mounted to swing, rod connections between said arms, springs engaging with the outer arms, a hat-holding finger pivoted below the intermediate arm, and a spring engaging with said intermediate arm and also operating said finger, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK FRANCIS DENNING.

Witnesses:

LOUISA REED, JOSEPH MOORE. 

